ride at night....

although i almost fell off my bike of heat stroke today, i still say ride. check out this time-lapse video in hanoi of this busy intersection that hundreds of autos, scooters, bikes, rickshaws all pass thru with no traffic signals. maybe just ride at nite tho...i mean presumably its cooler.


Hanoi crazy night traffic from v!Nc3sl4s on Vimeo.

athfest 08

i know, i know, if you're not from here and don't know what this is already, it sounds like a gathering of folks who speak with a lisp or a festival honoring those who are often tongue-tied. well it's neither. athfest is athens' annual music festival which includes 200 artists and musicians performing downtown in one 3-day weekend. it spills over several blocks and all the clubs/restaurants open their doors to acts as well. $15 bucks gets you a wristband for the whole event. although i love the free outdoor stages its stinking hot here in late june so someone got wise and hooked up the mister lines and loads of sorbet vendors doesnt hurt. so at some point, the wristband pays for itself in other ways b/c you can go in for some A/C, more civilized bathrooms, and a cold beverage that's actually cold. there's a huge communal beer tent, so as to contain alcohol and keep it off the streets which is illegal here. several of my friends play, watch, listen, and just hang out. its a fun annual event here in a-town. and believe it or not we actually hear lots of new music...even in this town where folks think you've heard it all. peace.

girlz recharge

took a week off last week and went up to DC to reconnect with old friends, see dad for father's day and just be in a place i love. it was a fantastic week and i returned very zen, chilled, and recharged and that on top of a couple of days in the 90s heatwise. numerous events popped up to make fun treks to: lawn seats for REM at merriweather post pavilion w/rena & pat;
a DC united home match against NY redbulls where dad scored VW-sponsored box seats complete with free bratwurst, german beer, and VW sponsor seats to watch the 4 to 1 spanking; a second concert (boz scaggs, you know it: ledo missed the boat that day he left the shack...) at the other outdoor pavilion wolftrap for father's day preceeded by a brunch at the capitol hill institution and kay's favorite tunnicliff's; and touring the, well i'm gonna call it tim russert's, Newseum during the adjacent pride festival. note: 4 hours isnt enough time to see it all.
so when i arrived i bought a $10 metro card and put my urban bag on and hit the streets. one particularly hot day i even wore my camelbak until john reminded me they have running water most everywhere now. indeed they did, even when i stayed on capitol hill in my friend's lovely basement apartment. about town, i refamiliarized myself with walks to eastern market and introduced new DC'ites nash and tom to it, union station, barracks row, and cleveland and woodley parks. i met up with an old friend and neighbor vas, and later pat, in my old hood and was delighted to recognize most businesses along the pedestrian villagey strip and could almost step right back into my former life. indeed i even walked up to my former residence, knocked on the door, and gave my landlord a big hug and a how've you been porch sitting session ensued. most all my girlz are moms now so i also met a few kids, dogs, and spouses this visit. all in all, it was a great week. i hope you all get one soon.

today's horoscope

You are moving out of your comfort zone and reaching toward a new way of expressing your creativity. You may not be clear about where you are going, but you are still ready to head on out. Don't start your new venture quietly. Turn it into a party and invite the best people you know. The bigger the splash today, the better the show will be in a few months.
amen!